RCA Committee on Disabilities "I praise you (O Lord), for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." --Psalm 139 The mission of the RCA's Committee on Disabilities is to encourage congregations to embrace, include, and value all persons with disabilities together with their families. In Isaiah 56:7, we are told, "For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples." In our world today people with disabilities and their families are claiming that promise in God's household. Each community of faith can claim this promise as well, by inviting, affirming, and loving all people with disabilities and their families as they enter the house of God and truly making it open to all who enter and worship. "If there are barriers of attitude, communication, or architecture for anyone, the foundation of the House of God is weakened for all," writes Brett Webb-Mitchell. Twenty percent of the population of the United States and Canada--one of every five persons, crossing race, social, economic, gender, and age categories--faces the challenge of some kind of disability. Each and every one of those persons, among their variety of needs, has the need to know and worship their Creator. The RCA Committee on Disabilities provides the following information to help churches in their ministries with and for persons with disabilities.* Experience has shown us that many people with disabilities within our congregations are doing some outstanding work and we would like to print their stories. Whether you are a person with a disability or know a person with a disability who is a member of your consistory or someone with a disability who changes your day because of their smile as they greet you on Sunday morning, please write down their story or a story about something special that they have done for you or your congregation. Then send your story to the address below so that we can include this person's story as part of our web site to benefit others. By mail: Committee on Disabilities
c/o Kirsty DePree
Reformed Church in America
4500 60th Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49512
By email: kdepree@rca.org
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